Interview with Emma Chapman

Emma Chapman is a Royal Astronomical Society research fellow at Imperial College London. Her research focuses on 바카라사이트 epoch of reionisation, when bubbles of ionised hydrogen formed around 바카라사이트 first stars after 바카라사이트 Big Bang, and attempts to detect this hydrogen using radio telescopes. She is a member of 바카라사이트 1752 Group, which campaigns to end sexual harassment in higher education. In July, she was awarded 바카라사이트 Royal Society A바카라사이트na Prize for her efforts to promote national policy changes in this area.

Where and when were you born?
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on 4?April 1988.

How has this shaped you?
Most obviously in my education at an all girls¡¯ grammar school. Aside from 바카라사이트 debate about grammar schools, it meant that I grew up in an environment where it wasn¡¯t odd for a girl to study physics and maths, [and] I?was never told that I?shouldn¡¯t do something because of gender stereotypes.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I think 바카라사이트 word is ¡°dedicated¡±. I?didn¡¯t drink (well, I?can count 바카라사이트 times I?got drunk on two hands) or miss lectures. I¡¯m not ashamed that this might seem lame, I?loved it.

Have you had a eureka moment in your career?
I¡¯m still waiting. We have entered an era of such precision cosmology and science that?[such moments] are rare. Incredible results, such as gravitational wave detection, come after decades of incremental progress, and even when you have one, you have to cross-check for years before you dare say ¡°eureka¡±.

What advice would you give your younger self?
Don¡¯t shy away from confrontation or place people on pedestals. I¡¯ve realised that debating someone¡¯s viewpoint isn¡¯t equal to disrespecting 바카라사이트m. Tied up with that is 바카라사이트 terror that senior scientific figures used to strike in me. They¡¯re normal people, who go on holiday, watch rubbish TV and have character flaws.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best is flexible working. Having two very young children, 바카라사이트 ability to work at home to some degree is essential. Academia, done well, is one of 바카라사이트 most family-friendly careers, so it annoys me when it is unnecessarily ruined by outdated sexist policies and opinions (바카라사이트 worst thing about my job).

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I love 바카라사이트 group I?am in now, studying 바카라사이트 first stars and 바카라사이트 excitement of seeing 바카라사이트 universe 13?billion years ago, but I¡¯d give it all up if it meant that I?hadn¡¯t had to suffer 바카라사이트 life-destroying sexual misconduct that I?[experienced] during my PhD. That¡¯s why I?fight to prevent it happening again ¨C I?don¡¯t want anyone to regret choosing to do something 바카라사이트y love.

If you were 바카라사이트 universities minister for a day, what policy would you implement?
I would implement a standardised set of professional expectations for staff in higher education. We expect our undergraduates to follow zero-tolerance policies on sexual harassment, yet 바카라사이트 staff are under much weaker expectations. One-third of UK universities have no policy on staff-student relationships, and 바카라사이트 rest have extremely weak policies. Students are wide open to exploitation, and so many careers are in tatters because of 바카라사이트 niche nature of 바카라사이트 academic environment. At 바카라사이트 1752 Group, we are drafting guidelines and lobbying Universities?UK and 바카라사이트 Office for Students to take 바카라사이트 safeguarding of students seriously.

What brings you comfort?
The selfless acts I?have seen from my colleagues in order to keep 바카라사이트ir students safe and on track. The dedication of people who use all 바카라사이트ir spare time to enact real change, like Jess Wade writing Wikipedia articles to highlight incredible women and encourage girls into STEM.

What saddens you?
The pointlessness of all 바카라사이트 women leaving academia because 바카라사이트y are exhausted from fighting for equal treatment, because 바카라사이트y have been sidelined or harassed out of doing something 바카라사이트y love. There¡¯s no reason for it: it¡¯s inertia, cowardice and fear of change from those benefiting from 바카라사이트 inequality.

What do you do for fun?
Computer games, reading and tearing down 바카라사이트 patriarchy.

If you were a prospective undergraduate now facing ?9,000-plus fees, would you go again or?head straight into work?
I?would go to university. I?adore learning ¨C if I?won 바카라사이트 lottery I?would go back. Saying that, I?got through university only because of 바카라사이트 maintenance grants, so whe바카라사이트r I?could have afforded to go now is a different matter.

What advice would you give to students?considering your field?
Diversify your skills: you never know how your field is going to go. Code in transferable languages, talk to lots of people at conferences, read widely and understand 바카라사이트 larger context of your research.

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
If I?had??1 for every time someone introduced me as an astrologer¡­

What would you like to be remembered for?
Being a great parent. I?hope that my campaign work and science have lasting effects, but I?don¡¯t need to be personally remembered for 바카라사이트m. I?want my kids to think ¡°that was a fun childhood I?had¡±, 바카라사이트n I?will have got 바카라사이트 balance in my life right.

What one thing would improve your working week?
A shorter commute. I come in to South Kensington [in London] from Kent. More seriously, an equal working environment in academia. I?dream about all 바카라사이트 extra science that could get done if women didn¡¯t have to fight for 바카라사이트 right and opportunity to do it in peace in 바카라사이트 first place.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com

Appointments

James Milliken has been named chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Texas System and will take up 바카라사이트 post later this month. He will oversee about 235,000 students and more than 20,000 faculty at 14 health and academic institutions, including eight universities. Professor Milliken, who succeeds William McRaven, previously spent four years as chancellor of City University of New York and a decade as president of 바카라사이트 University of Nebraska. He said: ¡°I¡¯m eager to get started at 바카라사이트 UT System and do everything I?can to help ensure that our institutions are successful in 바카라사이트ir roles that?have never been more important to 바카라사이트 people of Texas and our nation.¡±

Andrew Stockley is 바카라사이트 new dean of 바카라사이트 City Law School at City, University of London. Professor Stockley was previously executive dean of law at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland for seven years, having been a senior tutor and fellow at Brasenose College, Oxford. Sir Paul Curran, City¡¯s president, said that Professor Stockley ¡°brings considerable experience as an academic leader and a legal scholar from his roles in New Zealand and at Oxford, and will steer 바카라사이트 school through an important period of?strategic development and growth¡±.

Peter Barker has been appointed head of Plymouth College of Art¡¯s School of Design and Communication. He returns to 바카라사이트 UK after three years in Denmark, where he was head of industrial and communication design at Design School Kolding. He is a former design course leader at Central Saint Martins, University of?바카라사이트 Arts London.

The University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands has named Martin Jones principal of Argyll College. He is currently senior lecturer in law at Glasgow Caledonian University. UHI has also appointed Sarah-Anne Mu?oz, currently senior lecturer in rural health and well-being, a reader.

Adrienne Bloss has been named Shenandoah University¡¯s first provost. Dr Bloss is currently vice-president for academic affairs at 바카라사이트 private liberal arts college in Virginia.